PAINFUL AND ITCHY DERMATOSES CARRY THE HIGHEST PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN FOR DERMATOVENEREOLOGICAL PATIENTS

Background: Most dermatovenereological diseases are not life-threatening but nevertheless are highly prevalent disorders. Psychosocial aspects of skin diseases and physical symptoms strongly influence patient\u27s quality of life (QoL) which results in the development of different coping mechanisms in patient\u27s behaviour. Development of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with skin diseases is well known. On the other hand, little is known about psychological comorbidity associated with dermatovenereological diseases. Aims of this study were to investigate QoL and psychological burden among dermatovenereological patients. Subjects and methods: Two hundred and ninety patients suffering from different dermatological and venereological diseases participated in the study, divided into three study groups: itchy/painful dermatoses, non-itchy/non-painful dermatoses and venereological diseases. Participants completed standardized psychological questionnaires: Dermatology Specific Quality of Life (DSQL), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Intensity of the disease and localisation of the lesions were also assessed. Results: Physical aspect of QoL was mostly influenced by itchy/painful dermatoses but psychological aspect and everyday activities and choices were mostly affected by patients with non-itchy/non-painful dermatoses and venereological diseases. 4.1% of participants had serious depressive symptoms, 11.5% had high and very high anxiety symptoms as state and 15.6% as trait. However, participants with severe skin conditions were more depressed, while participants with always and sometimes exposed lesions were more anxious. Conclusion: It is essential to recognise subgroups of dermatovenereological patients whose treatment approach should be interdisciplinary. Further studies are needed to detect psychosocial needs of patients with venereological diseases

Micro - Focused Phototherapy Associated To Janus Kinase Inhibitor: A Promising Valid Therapeutic Option for Patients with Localized Vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary cutaneous disease, characterised by the progressive loss of melanocytes, resulting in hypopigmented skin areas which progressively become amelanotic. Classically, vitiligo treatments are unsatisfactory and challenging. Despite the continuous introduction of new therapies, phototherapy is still the mainstay for vitiligo repigmentation.AIM: The aim of this multicenter observational retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the nb - UVB micro - phototherapy (BIOSKIN EVOLUTION®), used alone or in associations with an oral Janus kinase inhibitor (Tofacitinib citrate), in the treatment of stable or active forms of localised vitiligo.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty eight patients had been treated with n-UVB micro-photootherapy (Group A); 9 patients had been treated with phototherapy plus Tofacitinb citrate (Group B).RESULTS: Among Group A, 42 patients (72%) obtained a re-pigmentation rate higher than 75%, with a medium value of 77%. 11 patients (19%) achieved a marked improvement of the clinical findings with a repigmentation rate between 50-75%; 4 patients (8%) showed a moderate response with a lesional repigmentation of 25-50%. Only one patient (1%) had a poor response to the phototherapeutic treatmentCONCLUSION: Nb - UVB micro-focused phototherapy is one of the most effective therapeutic options for vitiligo treatment. The association of micro-focused phototherapy to Tofacitinib citrate seems to provide better clinical results in term of repigmentation rate

PAINFUL AND ITCHY DERMATOSES CARRY THE HIGHEST PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN FOR DERMATOVENEREOLOGICAL PATIENTS

Background: Most dermatovenereological diseases are not life-threatening but nevertheless are highly prevalent disorders. Psychosocial aspects of skin diseases and physical symptoms strongly influence patient\u27s quality of life (QoL) which results in the development of different coping mechanisms in patient\u27s behaviour. Development of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with skin diseases is well known. On the other hand, little is known about psychological comorbidity associated with dermatovenereological diseases. Aims of this study were to investigate QoL and psychological burden among dermatovenereological patients. Subjects and methods: Two hundred and ninety patients suffering from different dermatological and venereological diseases participated in the study, divided into three study groups: itchy/painful dermatoses, non-itchy/non-painful dermatoses and venereological diseases. Participants completed standardized psychological questionnaires: Dermatology Specific Quality of Life (DSQL), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Intensity of the disease and localisation of the lesions were also assessed. Results: Physical aspect of QoL was mostly influenced by itchy/painful dermatoses but psychological aspect and everyday activities and choices were mostly affected by patients with non-itchy/non-painful dermatoses and venereological diseases. 4.1% of participants had serious depressive symptoms, 11.5% had high and very high anxiety symptoms as state and 15.6% as trait. However, participants with severe skin conditions were more depressed, while participants with always and sometimes exposed lesions were more anxious. Conclusion: It is essential to recognise subgroups of dermatovenereological patients whose treatment approach should be interdisciplinary. Further studies are needed to detect psychosocial needs of patients with venereological diseases

Proposal for Guidelines for the Treatment of Vitiligo in Croatia

Vitiligo, an acquired depigmentation disorder, because of its impressive clinical presentation has a large impact on psychosocial life of patients. Although the exact etiopathogenesis still remains uncertain, several therapeutic options are available for treatment of this condition. Unfortunately, patients are often confronted with difficulties regarding to receiving suitable therapy. Because of the fact that vitiligo is not contagious and not life-threatening disease, physicians usually do not recognize patients’ problems and consider vitiligo as only a cosmetic problem, which should be treated only by camouflage and sun protection products. On the other hand, because of the lack of the accurate information for patients, a widely open market for different kind of alternative questionable therapies occurs so patients are often experimenting with different types of unproven medications. The need for widely accepted consensus concerning vitiligo treatment and establishment of the therapeutic guidelines exists worldwide. Our aim was to introduce for the first time vitiligo therapy guidelines in Republic of Croatia, based on the evidence-based accepted vitiligo therapy world recommendations and our experience. We present a review of therapy for vitiligo regarding to various vitiligo types and severity of lesions as well adequate therapeutic options. Also, our intention is to improve social component of patient’s life through rising awareness of this condition which affects over 35 million people worldwide

Proposal for Guidelines for the Treatment of Vitiligo in Croatia

Abstract: Vitiligo, an acquired depigmentation disorder, because of its impressive clinical presentation has a large impact on psychosocial life of patients. Although the exact etiopathogenesis still remains uncertain, several therapeutic options are available for treatment of this condition. Unfortunately, patients are often confronted with difficulties regarding to receiving suitable therapy. Because of the fact that vitiligo is not contagious and not life-threatening disease, physicians usually do not recognize patients’ problems and consider vitiligo as only a cosmetic problem, which should be treated only by camouflage and sun protection products. On the other hand, because of the lack of the accurate information for patients, a widely open market for different kind of alternative questionable therapies occurs so patients are often experimenting with different types of unproven medications. The need for widely accepted consensus concerning vitiligo treatment and establishment of the therapeutic guidelines exists worldwide. Our aim was to introduce for the first time vitiligo therapy guidelines in Republic of Croatia, based on the evidence-based accepted vitiligo therapy world recommendations and our experience. We present a review of therapy for vitiligo regarding to various vitiligo types and severity of lesions as well adequate therapeutic options. Also, our intention is to improve social component of patient’s life through rising awareness of this condition which affects over 35 million people worldwide